Knox, 25, spent four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher while they were exchange students in Perugia, a hilltop Italian university town popular with foreigners. Knox, who became a tabloid sensation in Britain and Italy, was acquitted on appeal in 2011. She returned to her Seattle-area home, but Italy's high court last month ordered a retrial.

In the hotly anticipated memoir, published by HarperCollins and in bookstores on Tuesday, Knox maintained her innocence and wrote that she regretted that in prison she had never reached out to Kercher's family to say that the girl's death had been a "heartbreak to so many."

The memoir was released in conjunction with an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer that is due to air on Tuesday evening.

Knox wrote that she wished she had reached out to Patrick Lumumba, a Congolese bar owner whom Knox falsely accused of the murder. Lumumba, who was briefly jailed and then cleared, said in 2011 that Knox's accusation destroyed his life.

"Naming him was unforgivable, and he didn't deserve it, but I wanted to say that it wasn't about him," Knox wrote. "I was pushed so hard that I'd have named anyone."

Knox penned letters to both, but her lawyers advised against sending them because it would hurt her legal case.

In the 457-page memoir, Knox writes of arriving in Italy at age 20 with "rookie Italian" and a penchant for "immature antics," eager to develop independence and come into her own.

Knox writes that she and Kercher bonded right away: "We did what all girls do: we talked about the guys we liked in Perugia and the ones we'd left behind."

She denies that the relationship soured and describes a friendly final encounter as Knox and her new boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, left the shared apartment hours before the murder.

Knox writes that she did not understand that she was a suspect in Kercher's murder, and believed that she could help investigators find the killer.

"I was too confused to know what the truth was," she writes at one point, after implicating Lumumba and saying she witnessed the murder.

Her "bafflement" at the situation eventually gave way to "quiet indignation and defiance," Knox writes.

"I followed their directions like a lost, pathetic child," she writes of the investigation leading up to her arrest. "I didn't question, I didn't object, I just put my head down when they told me to and trusted that this would all make sense soon."

Knox, dubbed "Foxy Knoxy" in many early media reports, was initially portrayed as promiscuous and dishonest but a lobbying campaign by her family helped change perceptions.

Kercher's half-naked body, with more than 40 wounds and a deep gash in the throat, was found in the apartment she shared with Knox in the town in central Italy. A student at Leeds University, she was 21 when she died.

The Italian high court in March also overturned the acquittal of Sollecito, Knox's former boyfriend, and ordered a new trial on a date still to be set.

The acquittal came after independent forensic experts said the police scientific evidence was deeply flawed and the investigation had been bungled.

An Ivorian drifter named Rudy Guede, was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in a separate trial. He is now the only person serving time for the murder, although prosecutors say he could not have killed Kercher by himself.

(Reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Lisa Shumaker)

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - E! unveiled six new shows Monday, including a reality series about the WWE, and announced that its new series in development include the drama "Laurel Canyon," from "Gossip Girl" co-creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.

Besides including the WWE-focused "Total Divas," the network's new shows include "Hello Ross" (a working title) about "super fan" Ross Matthews and "The Trend," about fashion, beauty and design. It announced them ahead of its upfront presentation to advertisers in New York.

The development slate also includes shows from "Walking Dead" producer Gale Anne Hurd, Diane Warren, and Kevin Spacey, who also had a series in development for E! last year.

"Songbyrd," from "Grey's Anatomy" writer Krista Vernoff, is about a songwriter who's inspiration turns out to be a lie. It features songs from Grammy winner Diane Warren and draws on her experiences. She also executive produces along with "Smash" and "Chicago" producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron.

"Dirty/Pretty," which Hurd is executive producing, is about a blue-collar guy from South Boston who is scouted to be a Miami model. His friends take advantage of his new life to expand their criminal activities.

The Spacey project, "Fortunate Son" is about a formerly hard-partying golden boy who becomes a criminal informant forced to work in the slums. Last year, E's development slate included "Upstarts," a Spacey-produced project about Silicon Valley's boom in the late 1990s.

The network's slate also includes a previously announced reality series about pop group "The Wanted," which will be accompanied by a Ryan Seacrest special about the group.

"With its tremendous reach and influence, E! delivers original programming that achieves our network's mission to inspire and entertain the pop culture fan in all of us," said E! president Suzanne Kolb. "We are continuing to build on the success of our signature programming with new projects featuring a diverse mix of genres, formats and points of view that are centered in pop culture and are sure to excite our fans."

Here are E!'s upcoming projects, as described by the network:

NEW SERIES

"The Wanted Life" - Sunday, June 2 at 10:30pmET/PT (moves to regular timeslot starting Sunday, June 9 at 10:00pmET/PT)

This new half-hour series will chronicle the personal and professional lives of the edgy pop music powerhouse, The Wanted, who has already taken the world by storm. Viewers will see an unfiltered look inside the world of the chart-topping UK pop band as they head to sunny California to record their third album, gear up for their new US & Europe tour later in 2013 and solidify their top ranking on American pop music charts, along with their surprising dynamics and interpersonal relationships. Produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions, Scooter Braun Projects and Global Talent TV.

"Total Divas" - Sunday, July 28 at 10:00pm ET/PT

Revealing the real women behind the WWE Divas for the first time, this new one-hour series proves that the drama is even bigger when the sexy superstars step outside the ring. "Total Divas" goes inside the personal lives of these glitzy, glamorous celebrities who entertain sold-out crowds in arenas around the world and are adored by millions of fans. "Total Divas" is produced by WWE and Bunim-Murray Productions. Jon Murray, Gil Goldshein, Jeff Jenkins and Russell Jay are Executive Producers for Bunim-Murray Productions.

"Pop Innovators" - July 2013

This new series showcases the most influential names in pop culture in their own words. We love them for what they bring to our world, and how they have helped define pop culture and captured the collective zeitgeist. These are the people who, as leaders in their respective fields, have taken their fame and gone in new directions to become influencers across a wide range of topics, and who inspire others to do the same. The first episode of "Pop Innovators" will offer an in-depth look at the life and career of Will.i.am from his point of view and will also feature interviews with other celebrities that he's influenced most.

"Love and Other Contact Sports: Eric and Jessie" - Late summer 2013

From Khlo & Lamar to Kendra & Hank, E! has followed the romantic celebrity relationships of popular athletes and their gorgeous companions for years. The new "Love and Other Contact Sports" franchise will take viewers inside the confines of even more celebrity/athlete romances starting with country/pop singer Jessie James and her fianc, Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker whose wedding is quickly approaching. The series will chronicle the sexy young couple's road to the altar as they juggle careers, relationships, family and more. Currently residing in their Denver dream home, they share an ambition to succeed, a charmingly fun and unfiltered outlook on life, and most of all, a red hot attraction for each other. Produced by Shed Media U.S.

"Hello Ross" (working title) - Fall 2013

As the ultimate pop culture fan forum, this new interactive talk show is hosted by the super fan himself, Ross Mathews. Fans will have the unique opportunity to share their opinion on all the latest in pop culture, debate the most buzzworthy topics and come face to face with their favorite celebrities. From Borderline Amazing Productions.

"The Trend" - Fall 2013

This news series will feature a team of experts and celebrity contributors discussing all things fashion, beauty and design.

NEW SPECIALS

"Blinging Up Baby" - Thursday, May 2 at 10:00pmET/PT

There is nothing more buzzworthy in Hollywood these days than celeb parents and their star tots who fill the pages of weekly magazines. In this one-hour special hosted by Melissa Rycroft, E! explores how the stars are heralding stork visits, from preparing luxurious nurseries, to exotic and ultra-pricey "babymoons," to dazzling "push presents," outrageous celebrity baby and toddler gifts, and more. If it is hot in the world of celebrity mommyhood, you'll find out about it here. From Comcast Entertainment Studios.

"Nick Cannon's Big Surprise" - Thursday, May 9 at 10:00pmET/PT

Sexy actor, singer and TV personality Nick Cannon has a big surprise. Grateful to his grandparents who helped raise him, Cannon shows his appreciation with a surprise home makeover. Through the process, the star will share childhood memories, photos and videos as the audience gets an intimate look back at his life. But will his highly opinionated grandmother, actually like what he does with her place? There's only one way to find out. Produced by Entertainment One.

"Holly Has A Baby" - May 12 at 9:00pmET/PT

Holly Madison just took on the biggest role of her life when she became a mommy to a baby girl she named Rainbow Aurora Rotella. In this one-hour Mother's Day special, viewers will follow Holly to the hospital for the big event, and share in all she did to prepare for her new arrival with boyfriend Pasquale Rotella. Then, we're invited home with the trio as they share with us exactly what the future holds for Holly and her new family, including the possibility of wedding bells. From Comcast Entertainment Studios.

"The Untold Story: Jason Derulo" - Tuesday, May 14 at 10:00pmET/PT

Simon Cowell said he would be huge, Lady Gaga said he's "a freakin' superstar," and Jordin Sparks calls him, boyfriend. He was well on his way to the top when an injury sidelined his career, and could have nearly ended his life. This half-hour special is a turbulent ride with Derulo as he battles his way back from injury. With never-before-seen footage and exclusive behind-the-scenes access, we'll uncover the real man behind the persona of music royalty's newest member. From Comcast Entertainment Studios.

"Ryan Seacrest with The Wanted: An E! Special" - Monday, May 27 at 10:30pmET/PT

Days before the premiere of their highly anticipated new E! series, Seacrest is sitting down with the bad boys of pop, and no topic is off limits. Discussing their music, rock star lifestyles and their much-buzzed-about personal lives, The Wanted open up to Seacrest in this new one-hour special.

"Bigger, Badder Celebrity Feuds" - Tuesday, May 28 at 10:00pm

The Hatfields and McCoys had nothing on some of Hollywood's biggest and most explosive feuds, and this one-hour special pulls out all the stops to reveal the gritty details of what went down between Chris Brown and Frank Ocean, Halle Berry's ex and her current squeeze, Kelsey and Camille, and many, many more. From Comcast Entertainment Studios.

"E! Special: Brooke Burke" - June 2013

Giuliana Rancic is sitting down with the sexy actress and TV personality who has helped make Dancing With the Stars one of today's biggest television sensations. Opening up about her career, family and personal life, Burke shares her ups, downs and everything in between with Giuliana from her home in Los Angeles.

"Secret Societies of Hollywood" - Late Summer 2013

Beyond the red carpet and behind the security gates lies a forbidden Hollywood that only the rich and famous know about ...until now. "Secret Societies of Hollywood" is a two-hour documentary that will expose the cults, cabals and underground clubs that exist in today's entertainment industry. From Prometheus Entertainment.

"50 Hours with 50 Cent" - Fall 2013

What is it like to be 50 Cent? One lucky super fan gets to find out. This special captures 50 hours with 50 Cent as one of his biggest fans gets to spend exactly that amount of time with him. Viewers will experience over two full days with this iconic rapper, entrepreneur and businessman as he enters global promotional mode leading up to the release of his newest album.

"Inner Circle" - Fall 2013

A new experiment in storytelling from Executive Producer Ashley Tisdale, these specials will feature celebrities picking a member of their inner circle (a trusted friend, family member or close confidant) to tell their real story and to ask the questions. More conversation than interview, it's an emotionally charged journey where the celebrities let their guards down, open up and have fun with someone from their "inner circle." From Blondie Girl Productions and Relativity Television.

NEW UNSCRIPTED PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT (working titles):

"Young Sonoma"

This series chronicles the personal and professional lives of premier families at the top of their game in world renowned wine country, Sonoma Valley. Featuring Envolve Winery's Ben Flajnik ("The Bachelor"), Mike and Kate Benziger, Danny and Collette Fay, and B.R. Cohn Winery's Vallerie and Tasha Cohn, the series goes inside the day-to-day drama that comes from living in a small town, working with friends and family, as well as being local and national celebrities. From Mandt Bros Productions.

"Queens Are Wild"

Docu-soap that goes inside the high-stakes world of gambling and follows four of the top female poker players as they live together, travel the world and compete to win millions. From Tollin Productions, Inc.

"Palazzo Riggi"

Through the eyes of the outrageous family who lives there and the staff that run it, this new docusoap takes viewers inside a unique, luxurious world filled with eccentric personalities and gives viewers a glimpse into a jaw dropping, elaborate 24,000-square-foot family estate in upstate New York that boasts an authentic English pub, Balinese wellness spa and perfectly heated lawn that is designed to keep the paws of the family's 35 dogs warm year-round. From AEP Media and Machete.

"Flash"

This self-contained competition elimination series pits up-and-coming photographers against one another. In each episode, the photographers are given a real world challenge with real clients from the world of pop culture, who expect an amazing photo to sell their brand, talent or idea. Each week the winning photographer will get the exposure that could help launch their career. From Super Delicious.

"Sex & Real Estate"

Set in Miami, this new docusoap follows the personal and professional lives of a group of hot, successful real estate agents at the top of their game as they juggle a world where business always mixes with pleasure. From FremantleMedia North America and Purveyors of Pop.

"The Soup Investigates"

"The Soup Investigates" is a new spin-off series of E!'s popular comedy franchise "The Soup" that will answer all the questions that pop culture fans never thought to ask, and then some. How DOES that rose get from the grower's field to The Bachelor's hand just in time for the all important rose ceremony? What is life like inside the fascinating world of the "Mother Duckers," the families who make their living creating duck callers who WEREN'T cast in "Duck Dynasty"? Host Joel McHale and our investigative reporters will be working around the clock to get to the truth, or at least a very plausible facsimile thereof.

NEW TOPICAL / COMEDY PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT (working titles):

"James Davis Show"

Sketch comedy show parodying a wide range of pop culture subjects and personalities starring actor/comic/writer, James Davis. From Funny or Die Media, Inc.

"White People Can't Dance"

From Executive Producer Jack Osbourne and Vin Di Bona, this tongue-and-cheek format show features a team of experts who analyze some of the more outrageous stereotypes perpetuated by pop culture. Each episode our team will put multiple stereotypes to the test to determine which are fact and which are fiction. From FishBowl Worldwide Media and Schweet Entertainment.

"Secrets & Lies"

Secrets & Lies is the game show, based on the classic parlor game three truths and a lie, that tests pop culture fans' knowledge of their favorite celebrities while revealing shocking secrets about the stars we THINK we know and love. From Shine America's format label Ardaban.

NEW SCRIPTED PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT (working titles):

"Laurel Canyon"

In this drama from executive producers Josh Schwartz (The O.C., Gossip Girl, Chuck) and Stephanie Savage (The O.C., Gossip Girl, Carrie Diaries) and executive producer/writer Karen Croner (Admission, One True Thing), a young woman returns to her dysfunctional, extended family in Laurel Canyon with her son after hearing her rock-star legend father has passed away. Based on Croner's experience of growing up in the Hollywood Hills, the project is from Schwartz and Savage's Fake Empire in association with Warner Horizon Television. Fake Empire head of television Len Goldstein (The Carrie Diaries) also serves as executive producer.

"The Stand-In"

A darkly psychological re-telling of "The Prince & the Pauper" set behind the scenes of one of Hollywood's most famous actresses, who, tired of the spotlight, runs away in search of a normal life. Desperate, her family secretly hires a look-a-like to step into the star's glamorous world and high profile career - only to have the doppelganger slowly lose herself in the process of becoming someone else. From Executive Producers Ryan Seacrest, Nina Wass and Adam Sher, Ryan Seacrest Productions, Universal Cable Productions and writer Craig Chester.

"Songbyrd"

From writer Krista Vernoff (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Shameless), a young, prolific songwriter of some of the best love songs struggles to find love in her personal life after her inspiration is revealed to be a lie. Featuring the songs and experiences of Grammy winner Diane Warren, who Executive Produces with Craig Zadan & Neil Meron (The 2013 Academy Awards, Chicago, Smash) and Vernoff. From Universal Television and Universal Cable Productions.

"Expectations"

From writer Ron Bass (Oscar winning writer of Rain Man, Sleeping with the Enemy), inspired by the classic Dickens work, a soap about a morally corrupt family in the diamond business set in New York City. Executive produced by Oscar winner Dan Jinks (American Beauty, Milk). From CBS Television Studios.

"The Shoreline"

The golden child of a small coastal town in South Carolina returns home to see that a major Hollywood prime time soap, The Shore Line Yacht Club, is the biggest employer in town. An enormous class divide separates the cast and producers from the townspeople, yet their lives are now continuously and irrevocably intertwined - for better or for worse. From writer Carolyn Ingber and executive produced by Becky Hartman Edwards (Switched at Birth, Parenthood). From Fox Television Studios.

"Dirty/Pretty"

From Keith Eisner (The Good Wife, Law & Order), Jason Markarian and John Mirabella, a dark comedy centering on a blue collar guy from south Boston who gets scouted to be a model in Miami. Life gets turned upside down when his two best friends join him and see his new life as a way to expand their criminal activities. Gale Anne Hurd/Valhalla Entertainment will act as Executive Producer. From Universal Cable Productions.

"Fortunate Son"

Framed for a drug deal by a friend from his hard-partying days, society golden boy Michael Baron becomes a criminal informant and is at the mercy of the police. He bounces between his privileged west side of Los Angeles existence and the case he is forced to work in the slums. But his dark past gives Michael some leverage over his fate, and he makes a dangerous deal that could clear his name. Or get him killed. From writer and Co-Executive Producer Joey Falco and Executive Producers Kevin Spacey, Michael DeLuca and Dana Brunetti. From Universal Cable Productions.

"The Royals"

Part fairy tale, part cautionary tale, this contemporary family ensemble is steeped in all of the regal opulence of the British Monarchy and framed by Shakespeare's Hamlet. It's a tale of men and women corrupted by power, wealth and desire while looking at the nature of celebrity from a Royals' point of view. Executive produced and written by Mark Schwahn (One Tree Hill) and executive produced by Brian Robbins and Joe Davola (One Tree Hill, Smallville). From Lionsgate.

PARIS (Reuters) - France's Francois Hollande said he was undeterred by a first year in power marked by economic slowdown and a record slump in his personal popularity, arguing his 5-year presidency would achieve results over time.

In comments to correspondents from Reuters and Agence France Presse a week before the anniversary of his May 2012 election win over Nicolas Sarkozy, Hollande shrugged off polls showing his popularity rating around 25 percent, after the sharpest fall for any president in over half a century.

"I'm aware how serious the situation is. It's a president's duty to stay the course and to look beyond today's squalls. It's called perseverance," Hollande said.

"People can criticize my decisions, think I am on the wrong track or have not taken the right route, but if there is one thing I am sure of it's that I have taken major decisions for France - many more in 10 months than were taken in 10 years."

Hollande, France's first Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand, is squeezed between a business sector clamoring for lower taxes and labor costs, euro zone partners pressing for budget cuts and households hostile to austerity measures.

He said he would persevere with measures to restore growth like corporate tax credits aimed at easing headcount costs and a labor reform set to become law in May.

"It's the president who is held to account, and that's quite legitimate. It's up to me to weigh up what I need to do for the country today. To remain in control by being sure of my ideas."

RALLY THE NATION

After his campaign pledges to revive the flagging industrial sector, end a relentless rise in unemployment and meet deficit-cutting targets, Hollande has had to row back on almost all his economic targets, as factory layoffs continue apace.

While he stands by a goal to turn around unemployment by year-end, few believe he can achieve that. Jobless claims rose for the 23rd straight month in March to an all-time high.

Treading a delicate line as he attempts step-by-step reforms that were not part of his election campaign, Hollande said the country should have faith in him.

"The only thing that counts is the results. I have made promises and I will be judged on them," he said. "My hope is to rally the nation and restore confidence. That will take time, but it's my sole objective."

His economic woes aside, Hollande is also suffering from a perception that since he took power France is losing its voice on European policy. His prime minister said this month that France was losing its leadership role.

Foreign investors are watching closely since the government admitted it would need an extra year to reach a European Union budget deficit ceiling of 3 percent of output.

Inside France, where a scandal over an ex-budget minister's secret Swiss bank account has not helped, polls show a slim majority of people would prefer Sarkozy to be president today.

"I realized a long time ago that I would not go far if I let the commentary get to me," Hollande said. "According to what was said about me as a candidate, I had no chance of becoming president."

(Writing by Catherine Bremer; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

It said lists in some voting districts swelled by more than 10,000 names in a 48-hour period, or the addition of about 150 voters a second.

"This is just impossible," said party official Douglas Mwonzora.He said a copy of one Harare district list was obtained on a Monday earlier this month. Two days later, a revised copy showed an additional 11,890 voters on the list.

In other districts the names of active party members were missing or misspelled, making them ineligible to vote, raising fears of voting fraud being planned by officials loyal to President Robert Mugabe's party, he said.

The official voters' registry has denied tampering with the lists and insists it is just collating data in batches.

A new drive to register voters began Monday, following weeks of campaigning by all political groups for eligible voters not yet listed to have their details added to the nationwide roll containing 5.7 million names in a population of 13 million, slightly less than half of whom are under the voting age of 18.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change party, in a shaky coalition with Mugabe brokered by regional leaders after the last violent and disputed elections in 2008, said even Theresa Makone, its co-minister of Home Affairs in charge of voter registration, saw her name was missing in her area.

Under the coalition agreement, Tsvangirai's party shares control of that ministry that is also responsible for the nation's police dominated by Mugabe loyalists. Makone has had little influence over police commanders and senior government officials who have repeatedly vowed their allegiance to Mugabe.

Makone has told her district supporters that irregularities in their voters' list were "a tip of the iceberg" in what she suspected was happening countrywide to skew voting. Past elections since 2000 have been marred by allegations of vote rigging.

Tsvangirai on Sunday began a diplomatic offensive to garner the backing of regional leaders to ensure fair conditions are in place for elections planned between July and September that include large scale corrections to the voters' lists. Last month, the state Electoral Commission said in a continuing clean-up exercise it had removed the names of 350,000 dead voters who had appeared on previous lists.

Tsvangirai's party also accuses Mugabe of resisting reforms to sweeping media sweeping media and security laws demanded by regional mediators in the run-up to polling.

It says "hate speech" against Tsvangirai and his colleagues in the former opposition by the state broadcast monopoly and the main newspapers loyal to Mugabe has not been reined in and the party has been denied fair access to the state broadcaster, the only source of information to many impoverished, rural voters.

Tsvangirai met with South African President Jacob Zuma, the chief Zimbabwe mediator, on Sunday before heading to Tanzania to meet with President Jakaya Kikwete, current chair of a three nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) "troika" on regional disputes.

Tsvangirai's office said he has called for an urgent regional summit on long delayed democratic reforms in Zimbabwe.

Zuma told Tsvangairia that SADC and the continent-wide African Union organization "will do everything in their power to ensure a free and fair poll in Zimbabwe,"said Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesman.

MUMBAI (Reuters) - In a street next to Mumbai's biggest mall, in a suburb teeming with people even at midnight, is a building that at first glance looks like an abandoned warehouse.

The decrepit exterior hides the set of what may be one of India's most ambitious TV shows yet - the domestic version of the U.S. television hit action series "24", which its makers hope will revolutionize Indian TV.

The Indian "24" is a novel concept in an industry where daily soaps reign. It will be the first seasonal fiction show on TV, one of the most expensive TV shows ever produced and the first to have a Bollywood star in the lead.

Anil Kapoor, 53 and best known for his turn as the talk show host in Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire", will be the Indian counterpart of Jack Bauer, the suave police officer who is part of an elite anti-terrorism unit. Kiefer Sutherland starred in the original.

It is with this mix of Bollywood stardom and the terrorism theme that the show's makers are hoping to woo Indian audiences.

"We are giving them their star that they love and we are giving them subject matter which is close to them, which is India, patriotism, terrorism, crime, thriller and family emotions," said director Abhinay Deo. "Where can this go wrong?"

Kapoor, who is also the show's producer, played a Middle Eastern leader in the eighth season of the American series in 2010 and was convinced he had to bring the "discipline and professionalism" of U.S. television into India.

Aware that they are venturing into untested waters, the show's makers are paying great attention to detail. The main set or the CTU (counter-terrorism unit) is a replica of the one in the U.S. series, complete with newspaper clippings, Venn diagrams on softboards and huge monitoring screens.

On a recent day, director Deo and his assistants were debating how one of the characters should grip a syringe, attempting several different shots until they were satisfied.

This is unusual for an Indian television show, where the pressure of producing daily episodes often means little thought is given to characters or storylines.

"An international format is only a starting point, the key is how it is adapted to India," said Shailesh Kapoor, CEO of media insights firm Ormax Media.

If it does work, Indian television may be tempted to follow the West's lead, sticking to seasonal formats and focusing on smart writing and better production values, they said.

"When 24' becomes a hit, be assured that every CEO of every broadcasting company will be on a flight to L.A. to pick up formats," said Raj Nayak, CEO of the Colors channel which will air the series later this year, perhaps as early as August.

But it is not going to be easy. Nine of the top 10 fiction shows on Indian television are daily soaps with a crime thriller sneaking in at only number ten, according to a recent report by consultancy KPMG.

"My audience is the masses - the Hindi heartland," says Nayak. "They haven't seen this, for them it'll be a novelty and something new."

Still, it's a gamble, and the show's makers know they have to get it right the first time. Bollywood star Kapoor, who has starred in more than 100 films in three decades, may not get another chance to prove himself on TV, and chances of a second season are slim if the first doesn't make the cut.

"You stick your neck out and I have stuck my neck out," says Kapoor. "I am not playing it safe, I am playing the lead. And I'm a movie star."

(Editing by Tony Tharakan and Elaine Lies)

Actavis spokesman David Belian and Valeant spokeswoman Laurie Little both declined to comment.

Canada's Valeant was seeking to buy smaller U.S. rival Actavis for more than $13 billion before the discussions started to unravel late this week because of disagreements on the proposed terms, the source said. It was not clear on Saturday if the merger could be revived.

Valeant, which has a market capitalization of about $22.2 billion, said in February it was in talks to make more acquisitions, and it remains open to discuss a potential "merger of equals," even as it aims to lower its $10.8 billion debt.

The Montreal-based company has aggressively built up its dermatology and aesthetics portfolio in the United States in the past year, acquiring about a dozen assets or smaller companies, most recently winning a short bidding war for Obagi Medical Products.

Actavis, the third-largest global generic drugmaker, is itself the product of a merger. The company changed its name in January from Watson after buying Actavis as part of its strategy to expand in international markets and offer more specialty drugs.

Valeant, which was formerly known as Biovail before it acquired Valeant and assumed its name, is scheduled to report first-quarter results on Thursday.

(Reporting by Soyoung Kim and Jessica Toonkel in New York; Additional reporting and writing by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by Peter Cooney)

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - If you're looking for a show where politicians occasionally do some good, you might want to check out Netflix's "House of Cards." At least Kevin Spacey's conniving congressman does the occasional favor as he tries to slash his way to the vice presidency.

On "Veep," Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Selina Meyer already has the job - and it sucks. As the show returns to HBO Sunday for its second season, she's still abusive to her underlings, ravenously ambitious, and desperate for the POTUS to call. But she's also sleep-deprived after traveling the highways and byways of a country she doesn't seem to like, stumping for candidates she hates, trying to help the party she's ambiguous about win midterm elections.

The premiere takes place as those self-serving dreams are dashed, on election night and the harsh morning after. The stench of death is in the air.

"Apparently POTUS' chief of staff is telling everyone to write their will," one character says. Another fantasizes about being cryogenically frozen. Then comes this pronouncement: "Put everything in the wagons and shoot the dogs, because we have lost the House."

Have I mentioned "Veep" is one of the funniest shows on television? It is, because of the deadpan frankness with which it stares into a pit of petty avarice. There's nothing to do but laugh at the prospect of someone like Meyer in a position of such power and responsibility. But you're laughing through your tears, because, well.

Louis-Dreyfus won and Emmy for the role last season, and would be a safe bet for this one, too. Selina was a knife of a character from the first episode because Louis-Dreyfus and creator Armando Iannucci have made no effort to soften her with likability - or even good intentions.

Like so many of our leaders, Selina cared about issues once, probably. But now it's all about power and access. She competes with similarly insecure narcissists.

Most pathetic of all are the supplicants who try to win her favor. These are the characters we relate to the most, because some of them seem to have some idealism, or at least a willingness to pretend Selina's self-centeredness is a means to and end.

In order from most to least ruthless, they are Dan Egan (Reid Scott), Mike McClintock (Matt Walsh), Sue (Sufe Bradshaw), Amy (Anna Chlumsky), and Gary (Tony Hale). Presidential aide Jonah (Timothy C. Simons) is arguably more powerful than any of them, despite looking like a giant kindergartner.

Every one of them is excellent, with similar but uniquely formulated concoctions of fear, jealousy, and resentment that make any interaction potentially disastrous. In the premiere, we're treated to the spectacle of "My Girl" star Chlumsky and the most arrested of the "Arrested Development" clan, Hale, becoming desperate allies. But everyone gets their moment to shine, or at least have a public meltdown. The premiere finds Mike lamenting a foolish purchase as the ever-efficient Sue gets to turn her cold, barely-hidden contempt on the press.

The show manages to add to and improve on the mix with the addition this season of Gary Cole as number-crunching strategist Kent Davidson and Kevin Dunn as breakdown-prone presidential chief of staff Ben Caffrey.

Cole, of "Office Space" and "Brady Bunch" fame, tends to steal whatever he does, and poses the usual threat here as he exhaustedly outwits Selina at every turn.

Caffrey, meanwhile, gets to hide in a closet - his de facto bunker - and wait for the horrors to pass. Fortunately for us, they never do.

CBS viewers missed it. They also missed seeing Murray accept the trophy after he erased a championship point Sunday and rallied past Ferrer 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1).

An 11:30 a.m. start on Easter turned out not to be early enough for CBS. The network cut away when the final went to the tiebreaker, switching to the tipoff of the NCAA tournament game between Michigan and Florida.

"It's obviously a shame that people didn't get to see the end of what I think was a pretty exciting match," Murray said. "But that's the way it goes sometimes."

Tennis Channel televised the end of the match, and CBS later showed a replay of match point.

"We stayed with tennis as long as we could," a CBS spokeswoman said.

The final was filled with grinding baseline rallies, including at least a dozen of more than 20 strokes and one lasting 34. At 2 hours, 45 minutes, the match was the longest of the men's tournament, and the end ran a few minutes past the scheduled start of Michigan-Florida.

Sony Open tournament director Adam Barrett said CBS officials had a commitment to show basketball.

"They stayed with our match for as long as possible, forgoing their pre-NCAA tournament coverage and delaying the start of the Michigan-Florida tipoff in an attempt to complete its broadcast of the match," Barrett said in a statement. "Although we wish the match could have been shown in its entirety, we understand that these situations do arise."

Coincidentally, the Sony Open's contract with CBS expires this year. The tournament does not yet have a signed TV deal for 2014.

While the basketball game turned out to be lopsided, with Michigan winning 79-59, the tennis couldn't have been closer. Murray became the first Key Biscayne men's champion to save a championship point.

One point from defeat in the last set, the Scotsman skipped a forehand off the baseline to stay in the match. Ferrer appealed the call but lost, and he battled leg cramps in the tiebreaker.

"I don't think either of us played our best tennis," Murray said. "There was a lot of breaks and ups and downs, quite a lot of mistakes from both of us. But what I did do was fight hard."

Murray also won the title in 2009. His path to this year's championship was made easier because Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal skipped the tournament and Novak Djokovic lost in the fourth round.

Murray made a breakthrough last year by winning an Olympic gold medal and his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. He'll now move ahead of Federer to No. 2 in the rankings behind Djokovic.

The No. 3-seeded Ferrer, who was seeking the biggest title of his career, fell to 0-13 against top-five players in finals. Spaniards are 0-6 in the Key Biscayne men's final, with Nadal losing three of those matches.

But Murray sang the praises of Ferrer, a frequent practice partner.

"He's one of the best players in the world," Murray said. "Every time I play against him, people expect me to win. I say it's so tough against him. He has a great attitude and is a great fighter."

Murray has a home 15 minutes from the tournament site, near downtown Miami, and spends three months a year in South Florida. But the sellout crowd was firmly behind Ferrer.

"Playing here in Miami is like when I play in Spain," Ferrer said during the trophy ceremony to a roar from his rooters.

"I'm sorry," he added, managing a chuckle. "I'm so sorry. One point. Next time."

Playing in sunny, 80-degree weather, Murray and Ferrer were both drained in the third set, which started with six consecutive service breaks.

"It was so tough physically and mentally that you were just trying to play each point," Murray said.

Murray was a point from defeat serving at 5-6. When he hit a forehand on the line, Ferrer stopped to challenge the call. A panting Murray leaned on his racket while replay confirmed the ruling to make the score deuce.

"That's the beauty of the challenge system," Murray said. "In some matches, it would have been over. Luckily it just dropped in."

He won the game to hold two points later, then raced to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker. At 4-1, a grinding exchange ended with Ferrer pulling a backhand wide, and he then collapsed to the concrete from cramps.

Ferrer limped through the final two points. When Murray hit a return winner for the victory, he quickly dropped his racket, eager to call it a day. The two finalists then met at the net to trade weary pats on the back.

___

AP Sports Writer Melissa Murphy in New York contributed to this report.

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The bones, all from not-yet-hatched embryonic dinosaurs, are among the oldestever found. What's more, the embryo fossils came from separate nests and the dino embryos were at different stages of development when they died two discoveries that will enable researchers to study how dinosaurs developed before hatching.

"It tells us quite a bit about early embryonic stages and changes that occur in the embryonic life of these animals something we haven't really seen before," said study researcher Robert Reisz, a paleontologist at the University of Toronto.

In addition to discovering evidence of in-egg kicking, the researchers found that the embryos, which probably belonged to the long-necked Lufengosaurus, grew faster than the embryos of any birds or mammals alive today. []

Tiny-bone find

Timothy Huang, a chemist at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan and an amateur archaeologist, discovered the embryonic bones about three years ago in Yunnan Province, China. The bone bed has an area of about 3 square feet (1 square meter) and a thickness of about 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters). In this small patch, the researchers eventually uncovered more than 200 itsy-bitsy bones.

A geological analysis of the spot revealed that slow flooding probably smothered the eggs, which seem to have been laid in a colonial nesting site. After the flood, the embryos and eggs rotted and fell apart, leaving a mound of disarticulated bones. The bones date to the Lower Jurassic period, or between 199.6 million and 175.6 million years ago. That makes them just as ancient as the , which were discovered at a nesting site of long-necked Massospondylus dinosaurs in South Africa.

It was a boon for science that the dino embryos had fallen apart, instead of fossilizing inside their eggs, Reisz told LiveScience.

"People are extremely possessive and fond of their embryos imagine us asking them to take pieces out and do the sections on them and cut them, and essentially do damage to them," he said. "These bones are completely disarticulated, and we have a lot of them so it's not unreasonable to be able to take a few and cut them, and see what their internal anatomy is like."

How baby dinos grew

The bone bed contained spinal bones, limb bones, shoulder blades and even a few fragments of skull, but Reisz and his team focused their analysis on the most prevalent and best-preserved bones: femurs, or thigh bones. These little leg bones ranged from 0.5 to 0.9 inches (12 to 22 millimeters) in length, shorter than matchsticks.

The bones were porous, filled with cavities that would have once allowed blood to flow to the growing tissue. The size of the cavities is determined by how fast the animal grows which made researchers realize these embryos

"They grow very fast faster than we expected, and faster than most other dinosaurs that have been studied this way," Reisz said.

The fast growth rate makes sense, given that Lufengosaurus grew to 20 feet (6 meters) in length.

The researchers also found an asymmetrical thickening in the femurs associated with muscle action on the bone. The finding suggests thewere kicking and twitching inside their eggs.

The team also discovered evidence of organic material probably collagen, part of the connective tissue that forms ligaments and tendons. If the material isn't too deteriorated, it could be compared to collagen in living animals, thus providing a new way to look at relationships between modern creatures and the extinct dinosaurs, Reisz said.

"We're setting a new benchmark as to what can be done in dinosaur embryology," Reisz said. He and his colleagues report their findings Thursday (April 11) in the journal Nature. An upcoming goal, Reisz said, is to give the embryos their first dental exam.

"One of the things we may try in the near future is to look at the embryonic teeth themselves," he said. "They're very cool."

Follow Stephanie Pappas on and . Follow us , & . Original article on LiveScience.com.